Issue(s): Marvel Super Heroes #5 (Thor story only)
Cover Date: Apr 91 / Spring 91
Title: "When destiny calls"
Credits:
Sue Flaxman - Writer
Jim Valentino - Penciler
Tony DeZuniga - Inker
Barry Dutter - Assistant Editor
Mike Rockwitz - Editor

Review/plot:
This story features a clean shaven (real) Thor and an Odin that is alive and conscious. Having a story with this classic status quo for Thor may have been part of the appeal in including it in a comic in 1991. And it strikes me how odd it is to say that, considering how much the Tom DeFalco era of Thor from the late 80s and early 90s was a love letter to the Silver Age. But despite those Silver Age sensibilities, Thor himself went through a lot of unorthodox changes and Odin was mostly out of the picture.

This story has Hoder, Asgard's resident prophet, predicting an alliance between the Frost and Storm giants, to be led by Ymir.

Hoder says that only Vidar, Thor's half-brother, can stop the invasion. Vidar is Odin's son by way of a storm giant named Lady Grid. And Odin's wife Frigga is not happy to have him come around.

Thor reminds her that he isn't her son either; Thor's mother is Gaea.

Thor is sent to retrieve Vidar, who lives on a farm with his mother. They are currently being attacked by Storm Giants (who aren't all that giant).

Vidar's mom is kidnapped, but Thor grabs Vidar and brings him home, because fulfilling the prophecy is more important than rescuing Grid. Back in Asgard, Frigga continues to complain about Vidar; Odin's response isn't exactly diplomatic.

When Vidar arrives, Odin transfers Thor's power to him.

Vidar even gets his own goat-drawn flying carriage.

The Asgardians then meet the giants and agree to settle their war via a contest of champions rather than a full scale war. So it's Vidar vs. Ymir.

But the giants threaten Vidar's mother during the duel, and Vidar deserts the battlefield to rescue his mother. And then basically all the rules break down. Thor subs for Vidar against Ymir, the alliance between the Storm and Frost giants break down, and eventually the giants are defeated. Grid is rescued by ravens sent by Frigga.

Lady Grid is invited to remain in Asgard, and she agrees. It's not said whether Odin is happy to have peace between his wife and ex-lover or annoyed to have Grid hanging around now.

This is a pretty average story, probably most interesting for having what was likely to be an early submission by Jim Valentino.

Quality Rating: C

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: This story feels like a Tale of Asgard, but Thor didn't learn that his mother was Gaea until Thor #300, so this story would have to take place after that. On the other hand Odin seems to have two eyes, which suggests that this should go before Thor #300, but i've made "glass eye" rulings before. I've placed this between Thor #301-302, when we know that Thor was in Asgard, but it could really take place at any time that Thor was available to be in Asgard between Thor #300 and the Walt Simonson run, at which point Thor's status quo begins to get unusual.

Other stories from this issue: Thing, Speedball, Dr. Strange, She-Hulk.

References:

• Not a specific reference, but Vidar previously appeared in Thor annual #12, as did Lady Grid and Vidar's dog, Growler.

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A

Asgard's resident prophet must be hard to understand with his only communicating by saying "Hoder Hoder Hoder" all the time.

[Hmmm, something's not right there....]